CHENNAI: The lives of hundreds of Olive Ridley sea turtles along the Chennai and Chengalpattu coastline are being saved through intensified conservation efforts led by the TREE Foundation and its Sea Turtle Protection Force (STPF) members, with newly released data showing a sharp decline in turtle mortality during the 2025–2026 nesting season.

According to the data collected by the foundation, the number of dead Olive Ridley turtles found along the coastline reduced from 703 during the 2024–2025 season to 382 in the 2025–2026 season. This indicates a mortality reduction of nearly 46% this year compared to the previous season.

Conservationists associated with the foundation noted that while last year witnessed nearly 58% higher turtle deaths, the current season showed around 32% better survival outcomes due to continuous intervention and coastal monitoring initiatives.

Olive Ridley turtles migrate annually to the TN coast during the nesting season, especially between February and March. Female turtles lay eggs on the shore, making them highly vulnerable to fishing nets, marine pollution, ghost nets, and human disturbances.

Despite the decline in turtle deaths, the nesting and hatchling release numbers were comparatively lower this season. During 2024–2025, STPF members documented 749 nests and successfully released 77,016 hatchlings into the sea. In contrast, the 2025–2026 season recorded 466 nests and 47,745 hatchlings released, showing a decline of nearly 38 per cent in both nesting activity and hatchling release numbers.

Supraja Dharini, who leads the TREE Foundation’s marine conservation initiatives, stated that extensive patrolling and awareness campaigns played a critical role in reducing turtle deaths this year.